Electrically operated signal arm



J. P. BEDFORD ET AL ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SIGNAL ARM June 29, 1937.

Filed July 31, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l /-v VENTORS A 7701mm June 29, 1931- BEDFORD ET AL 2,084,984

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SIGNAL ARM Filed July 31, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 24- I'MHIII W75 a Ezvroks:

Patented June 29, 193? STATES PATENT ELECTRECALLY OPERATED SIGNAL ARM Application July 31, 1929, Serial No. 382,319

3 Claims. (Cl. 177329) rates This invention has reference to the art of signalling and particularly relates to electrically operated directional signals of the semaphore type.

Among the objects of our invention may be noted the following: to provide means by which a pendent directional signal arm may be electrically operated, or activated into signalling or display position, by electrical means the current of '10 which, when the arm has reached its functional position, is either greatly reduced or entirely out off in order to save the current energy while the arm is in the signalling position; to provide a device of the character noted in the foregoing in which the signalling arm is locked in its functional position through the medium of a magnetic device arranged. in shunt to the main circuit; to provide a signalling arm with means by which it may be electrically activated to functional position, including a solenoid connected to the arm,

and held in functional position by a latch or locking device mechanically or magnetically held in functional position; to provide means by which a structure, such as noted in the foregoing, may be controlled by a device adapted to control the current so as to secure the desired functions in the system; and to provide details of construction by which the objects noted in the foregoing may be economically, easily and certainly secured.

With the above objects in View and others of importance which will be detailed during the course of this description, our invention consists in the parts, features, elements, and combinations thereof hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that our invention may be clearly understood, we have provided drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a view showing a semaphore type of directional signal arm mounted in a casing or sheath with our invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing another form of our invention; and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, parts being broken away, and showing the parts in signailing position.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, the numeral i indicates a casing or sheath having a supporting bracket 2, it being understood that these two parts may be of any desired form found suitable for holding the operative parts and supporting the same in the desired position on the vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, using the same. The front of the sheath and a portion of its bottom is left open as indicated at 3, for the free'movement of the signal arm which comprises the body member 4, translucent extension 5 in which an incandescent bulb 5 is mounted in any usual way, and the reduced specially constructed head member 'l. Between the body l, and the head I, a catch shoulder 8 is formed, 5 and said head i is extended rearwardly to form an arm 9 to which is pivoted one end of a link Hi, the other end of which is pivoted to the core I I of a solenoid coil l 2, which rests upon the closed end 13 of the sheath I, the forward edge of said end 10 operating as a stop for the arm member 4. In the head 14 of the sheath, which may be ornamentally shaped, if desired, there is mounted a bell-crank lever on the pivot l 5 set in the sheath, said lever having at the end of one of its arms, a 15 catch lug I6, adapted to engage the shoulder 8, of the signal arm, and the other arm ll, of said lever, having on its back near its end a contact member l8 adapted to engage a similar member l9, insulated from the sheath. At the same end on its face, said arm I1. is provided with a mag- 20 netic piece 20 adapted to be drawn by the core 2| of a small magnet or coil 22 supported in any suitable manner in the head it of the sheath. As shown in the Fig. 1, the catch lug l6 normally rests on the rounded, upper end of the 25 head I ofthe signalling arm so that the bell-crank lever will be held normally with its arm H in position such that its contact l3 will be in engagement with the contact 19. A light spring 23 also normally holds the bell-crank lever in the position 0 just described, should there be any play between the head 1 and lug l6 and so as to maintain proper engagement of the two said contacts, thus preventing the core 2| of the magnet from drawing the arm ll until after the catch lug I6 is engaged with the shoulder 8, of the signal arm. The solenoid coil 12, and the magnet 22, are arranged in circuit as follows:

It will be understood, of course, that the vehicle on which the signalling arm is mounted, is provided with a battery 2 or other current producing medium, and that a controlling lever 25, is also mounted on the vehicle in a position convenient for ready manipulation by the operator. In the drawings the lever 25 is shown in neutral position and, with the understanding that if the vehicle be a road vehicle, it will have two signalling arms mounted one on each side thereof for the purpose of indicating the directional movement of said vehicle or what the driver is about to do, the following will be readily grasped. The contact 26 is the terminal of a lead running to a right-hand signal (not shown), While the contact 21 is the terminal of the lead 28 run- 55 tion.

ning to the left-hand signal shown in the drawings. Lead 28 goes to the solenoid I2, from which latter lead 29 extends to the contact I 9 mounted on the sheath, the current passing therefrom through the contact N3, the bell-crank lever and to ground, A shunt lead 30 extends from lead 28 to the magnet coil 22, which is likewise grounded on the sheath. By shifting the control lever 25 onto either contact 26, or contact 21, a solenoid, such as I2, will be energized resulting in drawing in its core II, and raising the signal arm to functional position through the medium of the link I and its, connection to the arm 9 of said signal. The magnet coil 22 is simultaneously energized; but, it cannot draw the arm I! of the bell-crank lever, because the catch lug I6 is riding the curved surface of the head I of the signal arm, and the bell-crank will be so held until the catch lug 16 drops into engagement with the shoulder 8, which is caused by the superior pull of the magnet against the spring 23, when the signal arm reaches its horizontal or functional position, for

signalling purposes. Instantly the catch lug l6 engages the shoulder 8, by reason of the mag net 22 shifting the bell-crank, the contact 18 is separated from the contact l9, and the current in the solenoid I2 is 'cut off, thus saving the current otherwise required to lift the signalling arm to functional position. A small amount of current, however, is energizing the magnet 22, which holds the bell-crank lever and which, in turn, holds the signalling arm, until the switch lever 25 is shifted from the contact 21 to neutral position. When this is done, the current is entirely out 01f, thus de-energizing the magnet 22 and enabling the light spring 23 to take control of the bell-crank, thus lifting its catch lug It from the shoulder 8, and releasing the signalling arm, which gravitally falls to its pendent posi- Simultaneously, the contact I8 engages contact l9, whereupon the path for travel of the current is'completed, ready for repeated operation when required.

In the foregoing it will be seen that the operator may shift the control lever 25 to raise either the right or the left-hand signalling arm to functional position. It will also be seen that instantly the signalling arm reaches its functional position, its activating current is cut off, thus saving wastage thereof, and preventing overheating of the coil and surroundings. It will also be seen that there is required only a small amount of current to energize the magnet 22 and enable it to perform its function of holding the bell-crank lever in functional position, so that it may maintain the arm in functional position as may be desired. Such current in the magnet 22 is not detrimental and is comparatively nil from the standpoint of wastage and heating.

In Figures 2 and 3, we have shown another form of our invention; but, as many of the parts in these figures are similar to those in Figure 1, we have indicated said parts by like reference characters. lever is different in form and the immediate current controlling means are likewise difierent. In these figures the bell-crank lever is provided with a short arm 3|, between which and the frame of the sheath is. held an expansion spring 32, normally operating upon said short arm tohold the long arm in contact with the curved surface of the head of the signal arm; but, as shown in Figure 2, with the signal arm in its In Figures 2 and 3, the bell-crank pendent position, the bell-crank is operated upon by the head of the signalling arm, so as to hold its magnetic member 33, carried by the long arm of the bell-crank in contact with the core 34 of the magnet 35, which, in this instance, has a different position and operates upon the bellcrank differently. The short arm of the bellcrank is provided with the contact member 36, adapted to engage contact member :31 and also contact member 38, both secured to and insulated from the sheath l in the head [4 thereof. In the normal inoperative position of the signal arm, as shown in Figure 2, the spring 32 is under compression and the contact 36 is engaged with the contact 38; while in Figure 3, which shows the operative and functional position of the signal arm, the latter is held'by the catch lug 16 on the bell-crank, and the latter has been actuated by the expansion of the spring 32, thus shifting the contact 36 from the contact 38 to the contact 31, the magnetic member 33 being also separated from the core 34 of the magnet coil 35. In these figures, the left-hand contact is indicated at 27!, and the right-hand contact is indicated at 26, and the control lever 25 is shown function until the lever 25 is shifted back to contact 39. With the lever 25 engaged with the contact 21, the parts assume the position of Figure 3, the signal arm having been raised to functional position and caught and held by the lug It on the bell-crank, which latter breaks contact at 38 and makes contact at 31. Thus, the

solenoid is cut out, the current is conserved and piece 33, thus shifting the bell-crank lever and releasing the signalling arm and allowing it to drop gravitally to pendent position. Sequentially, the spring 32 is compressed, contact 36 breaks with 37 and engages 38, thus cutting out the current through the magnet 35. With the return of the signal arm to .pendent position, all the parts are returned to the normal inoperative position shown in Figure 2.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that we have devised exceedingly simple operating means for controlling the action of a directional signal electrically. The means which We have produced are economical, both in matter of construction, in maintenance, and in operation. In the one form of Figures 2 and 3, no current is wasted, and in the other form of Figure 1, current wastage,if it can be so called,--is nil. It will also be seen that our structure involves no detriment to surrounding parts of the. signal, nor to the vehicle on which it is carried, because it avoids the overheating of the solenoid. Our invention also saves current and prevents battery drain. It is also an important feature of our -invention that all the parts of the signalling mechanism are sheathed or encased and are thus not liable to injury by the weather, or atmospheric conditions, or by dust, grit and dirt. True, the front portion and a portion of the bottom of the sheath or casing are open; but, such openings are finite and are suflicient only for allowing the free movement of the signal arm. Another important point is that although the bell-crank lever latch holds the signal arm positively in its functional position, said latch holds the said arm in its pendent position frictionally only, thus preventing breakage of any of the parts, should persons with mischievous intent or bent take hold of the lower portion of the arm and pull it outwardly. The frictional contact between the head of the signal arm, and the catch lug of the bell-crank lever is sufiicient to give the arm in its pendent position steadiness and prevent it from rattling.

Our structure enables a larger solenoid to be used than is common in electrically operated signals, because the current is cut off therefrom in one instance and greatly conserved in the other instance. This also overcomes or compensates for any weakness which may be manifested in the battery circuit. The use of a large solenoid also gives a reserve of power.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination a supporting member with a signal arm pivotally mounted above its center of gravity near its upper end, a source of electric current, a manually operatable electric switch, a solenoid having an armature operatively connected with said signal arm for operating said arm, an electric circuit for connecting said source of electric current with said solenoid, a latch member engaging a detention element on said arm for holding said arm in raised indicating position, an armature connected with and for operating said latch, an electromagnet connected in shunt with said solenoid and positioned in operative relation to said armature, a second electric switch in the circuit of said solenoid and controlled by said latch whereby when said arm reaches its raised indicating position said magnet functions and causes the opening of said solenoid circuit.

2. In combination a supporting member with a signal arm pivotally mounted above its center of gravity near its upper end, a source of electric current, a manually operatable electric switch, a solenoid having an armature with connecting mechanism to said signal arm for operating said arm, an electric circuit interconnecting said source of electric current and said solenoid, a latch member cooperating with a detention element on said arm for holding said arm in raised indicating position, an armature attached to and for operating said latch, an electromagnet connected in shunt with said solenoid and positioned in operative relation to said armature, a second electric switch in the circuit of said solenoid and controlled by said latch whereby when said arm reaches its raised indicating position said magnet functions and causes latching of said arm in raised indicating position.

3. In combination a supporting member with a semaphore signal arm pivotally mounted above its center of gravity, a source of electric current, a manually operatable electric switch, a solenoid having an armature operatively connected with said signal arm for operating said arm, an electric circuit for connecting said source of electric current with said solenoid, a latch member cooperating with a detention element on said arm for holding said arm in raised indicating position, an armature connected with and for operating said latch, an electromagnet connected in shunt with said solenoid and positioned in 0perative relation to said armature, a second electric switch in the circuit of said solenoid and controlled by said latch whereby when said arm reaches its raised indicating position said magnet functions causing opening of the solenoid circuit and the latching of said arm in raised indicating position.

JAMES P. BEDFORD. JOHN W. HAYWOOD. 

